In recent years Li Cunxin has injected his own brand of magic into the Queensland Ballet to great success. His vision to bring an enchanting Christmas classic to Brisbane only adds to this blossoming legacy. The company’s The Nutcracker is wooing audiences for a second year, offering festive cheer and double helpings of whimsy.
First produced in 1892 at the Imperial Ballet in St Petersburg, the Ben Stevenson incarnation of 1987 offers a playful interpretation of the original. Typically enjoyed in Europe and North American every Christmas, the production offers sunny Queensland something special to add to our local holiday traditions.
The dancers execute the spirited choreography with passion, obviously enjoying the production as much as the audience. Supported by decadent set and costume design, and a timeless score by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the production is certainly as Cunxin promises – reassuringly familiar, but still providing fresh delights.
Kicking off with a Stahlbaum family Christmas, complete with unruly relatives beneath a glorious tree, the audience is catapulted into chaos. The eye can’t rest amid the messy scene, reflecting the hectic gatherings familiar to so many of us. Although it is hard to ignore the casting of Fritz, a juvenile role played by the unmistakably manly Charles Riddiford – which proves somewhat distracting.
But the arrival of creepy Dr Drosselmeyer, given an edgy delivery by Hao Bin, begins to conjure the imagination and the audience is ready to follow young Clara (Terri Crilly) on an enchanting journey.
The midnight arrival of those hair-raising, big-bottomed rats is delightful, but it is the last scene of the act that is truly unforgettable. The dancers are a sparkling vision in the Land of Snow, with Natasha Kusch making an exquisite snow queen, delicate and dreamlike. It is here that the creative marriage of international set designer Thomas Boyd and highly acclaimed costume designer Desmond Heeley, comes to the fore. Patrons are swept away from a sweltering Queensland summer, to a winter wonderland.
From strength to strength, in Act 2 the production comes into its own, as we enter into the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets. Mention must be made of the incredibly athletic Arabian dancers, Lisa Edwards and Emilio Pavan, who master some fairly acrobatic choreography. Russian dancer Vito Bernasconi also impresses with his strong delivery and the ever-captivating Eleanor Freeman makes a beautiful floral partner to Shane Wuerthner.
A wonderful introduction to the ballet for children of all ages, the Queensland Ballet’s The Nutcracker would make a great addition to your family’s annual holiday tradition. Embrace the magic and be swept away.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The Nutcracker
Queensland Ballet
Choreographer: Ben Stevenson
Set Designer: Thomas Boyd
Lighting designer: David Walters
Costume Designer: Desmond Heeley
Music Director/Principal Conductor: Andrew Mogrelia
Répétiteur: Tim O’Keefe
Playhouse, QPAC
12 – 23 December
